Medici Chapels Florence Italy

Medici Chapels

The Medici Chapels is attached to the beautiful San Lorenzo church. The chapels were added to commemorate the famous and powerful Medici family. It houses some of the most important sculptures ever completed by Michelangelo.

I am so glad that I decided to stop by the Medici Chapels. It looks relatively unassuming from the outside, however the main chapel is just as majestic as the Medici legacy. The wealth of the Medici’s is beautifully displayed here. It's full of beautiful Medici family treasures and as well as portraits of the Medici dynasty. The Medici pope's (Leo's) red hat and gloves are some of the items on display.

The Medici Chapels is made of two parts. Michaelangelo created the New Sacristy and the much larger Chapel of the Princes is designed by a group of other artists.

The Chapel of the Princes is a breathtakingly massive space. It has an amazing open dome. The various paintings are astounding. The altar of the Chapel of Princes is quite stunning with all of the marble work found there. The Interior of the cupola of the Chapel of Princes is a marvelous work of art also.

However the smaller sacristy housing the beautiful Michelangelo sculptures Dawn and Dusk, Night and Day and Madonna and Child, was most memorable. It is a very calm and extraordinary simple space that was very well executed. Frescoes in the main chapel are stunning.

You can also find the tombs of Old Cosimo, Piero the Gouty, Lorenzo the Magnificent and his brother Guiliano. There is an unforgettable death mask of Lorenzo the Magnificent, to me it look like he was just sleeping when it was made.

There are doors all around so make sure you find them. One door will bring you to a display of religious relics. Another door will lead to the chapel with three more sarcophagi.

Bronzino's martyrdom of St. Lawrence is spectacular. Filippo Lippi's Annunciation is in the Old Sacristy along with two great bronze doors by Donatello. Make sure you go to the basement of the New Sacristy, there are some incredible charcoal drawings by Michelangelo on the walls.

The Medici Chapels are part of the Basilica of San Lorenzo. It is a separate attraction from the church and both require a separate admission fees. The Medici Chapels is completely worth a visit when you are in Florence.